Grapple.



T. H. WILLIAMS.

GRAPPLE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1908.

m. 6 MM .m L m H m 0 m Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

WITNESSES:

nwxzw. B. GRAHAM co PNOIOLITHOGRAFNERS. WASKINGYON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. WILLIAMS, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

GRAPPLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. WILLIAMS, of Utica, in the county ofOneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Grapples; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the charactersof reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a grapple particularlyintended for handling outside cofiin boxes of cement, but obviouslyadapted for other uses, which grapple is simple in construction and welladapted to meet the requirements of such a device in use.

Outside cofiin boxes of cement are heavy, more or less delicate andsubject to breakage and require to be handled into and out of gravesthat are but slightly larger than the box. This grapple safely handlesthe box and may be placed or released in a very confined space.

Figure 1 shows a perspective View of the grapple device in use on anoutside coflin box. Fig.2 is a plan view of the same.

Referring to the reference letters and figures in a more particulardescription, 5 indicates the rigid parts of which the grapple is mainlyformed, the same being provided in a set of four. These parts or rigidbars have the straight stem portion 5", with an inwardly turned end hook5 at the lower end and an angularly arranged converging portion at theupper end the latter carrying the hook 5 at its upper end. In additionthe bars 5 are provided with an outwardly standing bend 5 The hooks 5are adapted to engage with rings as b, which rings in turn are adaptedto be engaged by a hook as 7 of a tackle or hoist. When applied to acement box, as A, the stem portions 5 bear on the sides of the box andthe hooks 5 engage under the lower edge thereof. The outwardly standingbends 5 carry the bars away from the upper edge of the box A and obviateany danger of breakage of the edge by pressure thereon.

It is obvious that when arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the grappleWlll support a box by means of a hoist or tackle, and that itSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. September 10, 1908.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Serial N 0. 452,463.

may be lowered into or raised from a hole in the ground which was notmaterially larger in area than is the box.

\Vhen the box A is lowered into place, it is obvious that by detachingthe hook 7 and removing the rings I) each bar is independent. They maythen be moved severally, so that the stem portion 5 will occupy avertical position, as shown in dotted lines at c in Fig. 1. hen in thisposition the angular upper end may be used as a crank to rotate the stemportion, this crank moving from the position shown in dotted lines at ain Fig. 2 to the position shown in dotted lines by b in the same figure.This rotary movement releases the hook 5 and the bar can be withdrawnupwardly and removed.

It is obvious that the grapple can be applied to a box already in theground by reversing the operations just described. The straight stemportion 5" with the hook 5 may be readily forced down alongside of thebox until the hooked end is passed below the lower edge of the box, whenthe rotary movement will bring it into engaging position under the edge.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A grapple consisting of a set of four similar separable rigid parts5, each consisting of a straight stem portion 5 and angularly arrangedconverging portion, and having at the lower end inturned hook 5 andconnectible means for collectively handling the parts with which theupper ends of the converging portions are arranged to detachably engage,substantially as set forth.

2. A grapple consisting of a set of four similar separable rigid parts5, each consisting of a straight stem portion 5", and angularly arrangedconverging portions having at the lower end an inturned hook 5 and atthe upper end an open hook 5 connectible means for collectively handlingthe parts with which the hooks 5 are arranged to detaohably engage,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have affixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 7 day of September, 1908.

Witnesses S. I. DE .VINE, V. H. WILLER.

